Microsoft Broadens Hollywood Ties With New Reveille Series, 'The Big Debate'

Microsoft Broadens Hollywood Ties With New Reveille Series, 'The Big Debate'

Premieres on MSN on Jan. 15.

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MSN today announced the availability of new entertainment content including a new MSN(R) Originals series, "The Big Debate," produced by Reveille LLC. This content is resulting from the relationship MSN has with Reveille, a leading independent Hollywood production studio and distribution company that has produced groundbreaking critical and ratings hits including NBC's "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," ABC's "Ugly Betty," FX Network's "30 Days," and MTV's "Parental Control."

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )

MSN Original: The Big Debate

The debut of a new MSN Originals series, "The Big Debate," premiering at http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate , is a comedic and interactive daily original program in which two pop culture experts debate the right and wrong of today's hottest topics and vie for viewers' votes on why their respective arguments are correct. The audience explores the debate through innovative video design and interactivity, posting their own comments and in turn creating new debates. The first series episode, premiering today, will launch with a debate surrounding the Golden Globe Awards nominees.

"We're committed to growing original content online like 'The Big Debate,' because we believe the ability to capture an immediacy and build a community dialogue is a part of the future of entertainment," said Ben Silverman, founder and CEO at Reveille. "We're able to realize a fresh content idea with 'The Big Debate' by first taking the rich information MSN has about consumers' news interests, and then pairing that with the possibilities for viewers to interact using the MSN platform."

"The Big Debate" is the result of the relationship between Reveille and Microsoft announced May 3, 2006, to develop the next generation of entertainment programming online.

"Hollywood is increasingly taking advantage of the audience and interactive experiences MSN offers," said Joanne Bradford, corporate vice president of Microsoft Corp. and chief media officer of MSN. "For MSN to align with production companies as esteemed as Reveille is a mark of our commitment to expand our entertainment practice and continue to generate elevated content for our 465 million worldwide viewers."

Today, MSN is also featuring exclusive Golden Globes content at http://tv.msn.com/tv/globes2007/ .

About MSN Originals: Storytelling for the Digital Age

MSN Originals combines video, interactive community features and rich editorial content to deliver unique entertainment experiences that will be deeply integrated throughout the MSN network, including MSN Lifestyle and MSN Video, as well as Windows Live(TM) Spaces. The first MSN Originals series, "Fan Club: Reality Baseball" ( http://fanclub.msn.com/ ), debuted in July 2006. The next original series, "Be Jane" ( http://bejane.msn.com/ ), debuted in August 2006, and "A Big Life with Sissy Biggers" ( http://originals.msn.com/abiglife ) debuted in November 2006.

MSN Originals is focused on partnering with the best and brightest creative minds in the media industry to bring the new generation of storytelling online. Exclusive MSN Originals content is supported by advertising and made available free to MSN users. Advertising opportunities include display and streaming video, as well as sponsorship packages incorporating MSN media and in-content integration.

Information about MSN Originals can be found at http://originals.msn.com/ .

About MSN Video

MSN Video is one of the largest free programmed video services on the Web, watched by more than 11 million unique users per month. In addition to streaming news, entertainment and sports video clips from more than 45 content partners including "The Today Show," FOX Sports, MSNBC, Reveille, Control Room, JibJab Media Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group, MSN Video presents a broad array of live events to online audiences worldwide. More than 50 top advertisers support MSN Video, which is available to consumers at no charge. MSN Video is available on the Web at http://msnvideo.com/ to consumers in the U.S. MSN Video is also live in Australia, Canada, France, Japan and the U.K., and in Spanish in the U.S.

Overall, MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.

About Reveille

Reveille is a leading independent production and distribution company focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights through scripted and alternative television formats. Launched in 2002 by Ben Silverman, the company produces innovative entertainment programming across all television genres such as the Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (NBC), which has also received two Television Critics Association Awards; "The Biggest Loser" (NBC); "Ugly Betty" (ABC); "Identity" (NBC); "House of Boateng" (Sundance Channel); "30 Days" (FX); "Blow Out" (Bravo); "Bound For Glory" (ESPN); "Nashville Star" (USA); "Date My Mom" (MTV); and "The Restaurant" (NBC). Reveille is also the world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for leading advertisers while developing alternative financing paradigms. In addition, Reveille's growing library of programming is distributed to more than 150 countries worldwide through Reveille International. The company also creates, acquires and develops a broad slate of diverse films through its feature film division, Reveille Motion Pictures. Reveille maintains offices in Los Angeles and New York.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft, MSN and Windows Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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Source: Microsoft Corp.

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Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft Corp.

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/

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